Perfect Together (Canyon Cove Book 5) (3 page)

As I followed her from a distance, I kept reminding myself of one thing — Becca was my best friend. I’d be an idiot to screw that up.

Tonight, I would make sure no one bothered her, no one got too close to her, and I'd enjoy the view while I did. Tomorrow, everything would go back to normal. But even as I tried to convince myself of that, I knew I was wrong.

Chapter Two

Becca

Three Months Later

I was running around the house in a new pair of black yoga pants and a light blue t-shirt doing some last-minute clean up when the doorbell rang. As I slid towards the door in my socks, I spotted my lopsided pile of mail on the counter. Clutching the pile to my chest, I raced into the kitchen, opened a drawer, and dumped the mail in. Carefully closing the drawer, I made sure none of the envelopes slipped out.

"I'll be right there," I called out.

Cinder, my ten-year-old black Lab, tilted her head as she watched me run over to the Christmas tree in the corner. I had visited the shelter several months ago as part of the revitalization project and once I saw her, I had to have her. She reminded me of a dog I had growing up, there was no way I could leave her there.

Once I plugged in the lights, the tree gave the room a warm glow. It was the day after Christmas and I wanted to light the tree as often as I could before I had to pack it back up.

The doorknob twisted before Cassie knocked on the door impatiently.

"Come on, Becca," she said. "It's cold out here. Let me in."

"I'm coming," I said as I turned around and gave the room a final once over.

It was Cassie's first time there since the renovations had been completed a month ago and I was excited to have her over. Cassie and I met when she answered my ad for a roommate. We hit it off immediately and I convinced my uncle, a mixed martial arts trainer, to interview her when he was looking for a physical therapist for his team. My uncle's boss was Gabriel Kohl, and now he and Cassie were married and raising his daughter. It was another of my favorite couple stories, especially because I had a hand in it.

Cassie stomped her feet and rubbed her arms as I opened the door. "I could have frozen to death out there," she said.

"It's not that cold, you can't even see your breath. Plus you were in the hall, drama queen. I just wanted everything to look perfect for you."

She laughed as we hugged. "You know I can't stand the cold." Cinder came over and shoved her head against Cassie's thigh. She knelt down to pet him and he licked her face. "I can't believe this place, Becca. It doesn't look anything like it did when I lived here. I mean, look at these hand-scraped floors, and granite countertops. You even tore down the wall between our apartment and the Nelson's. I can't believe how big this place looks now that it's one house instead of two apartments. This had to cost you a fortune!"

"Well, you know what a dump this place was and what the neighborhood was like, so I got it pretty cheap. Then I had a lot of help with fixing it up."

"I know, I heard all about that," she said with a sly grin as she took off her coat. "Gideon worked his ass off here. I had no idea he was so handy. Then again, it is you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Give me a break, Beck. I know I always tease you about being more than friends, but be honest with yourself. Do you really think any man is going to do all this work just for his friend?"

It was a question I had asked myself plenty of times over the past six months since I bought the house. Gideon insisted on helping me with all the work. What he couldn't do, he found the people who would do it. And now that I thought about it, I realized I never paid for any of it. He told me they'd bill me, and I was so busy with work that I never realized no one did. Gideon must have taken care of it and I was too dense to piece it together.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut about it, but I really thought you could figure it out on your own. You're not just friends."

"We are, Cassie. I swear. Okay, I'll admit it, I've been a little obsessive about this job and I've obviously ignored certain things, but if Gideon thought of me as more than just a friend I'd know it."

She entered the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

"Have you asked him?" she asked.

"I don't have to, I'd know. Besides, you know how he is. He flirts with every one. And he's always falling in love. He doesn't just like someone, it's always love. You know that."

"I also know that he hasn't seen anyone in at least three months."

"Oh? Three months?" I asked as I turned away from her to hide how curious I was. "Did he say that? Why do you say it's been three months?"

"Because I remember that night at the Boone with the fundraiser. That was also around the time he moved into Gabriel's old penthouse downtown."

None of this was news to me, Gideon and I texted every night. But since the fundraiser I kept thinking something had changed with him. I couldn't put my finger on it though.

"I think you're reading into things too much," I said, more to myself than Cassie. "The past few months for Gideon have also been really crazy. His architectural design firm really took off after he finished Mason Abernathy's eco ranch. I think he's having a hard time dealing with his own success."

"Maybe," she said. "You do know him better than I do. I guess if something was going on with him Gabriel would have said something. You know they're close."

She pulled out a chair from the small round wooden kitchen table and sat down. As I handed Cinder a biscuit she flung it into the air and jumped after it as I sat down across from Cassie.

"How is Gabriel? Is he out with Wendy tonight?"

"No, they're home, it's movie night. I was tempted to stay, but I thought they should have some quality time without me around. She never says anything, but I'm sure she misses having her dad all to herself."

"The way you two get along? She loves you, Cassie. It's obvious."

"About as obvious as you and Gideon being more than friends," she said.

"Really? I thought we were done talking about him."

She shook her head. "As one of your best friends, I reserve the right to bring up Gideon whenever I want."

"I think I need to demote you."

"And where is this friend of yours tonight?" she asked as she arched her brow.

"I don't know, maybe a date or something. Gideon doesn't tell me everything he does, you know."

"You're lying," she said. "I can tell because you're scrunching your nose."

I sighed as I pursed my lips. I had to be the worst liar on the planet.

"Fine, just don't make it a big deal that I know. He said he was going out with some friends tonight," I said.

"And? I know that's not all."

"Gosh, you can be a real ballbuster when you want to be, you know that?" I asked, teasing her.

"I
do
know. Gabriel tells me all the time," she said with a grin. "Now spill, are you seeing your
friend
Gideon later? Just because he's going out with some friends, it doesn't mean you can't see him afterwards."

"I heard that, how you said
friend
. I know what you're thinking, but really, that's all he is. Maybe he'll text me later, but that's it. For the last time, we are just friends. Nothing more."

Cassie pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at me as she tried to figure out if I was lying.

"You know friends sometimes make the best lovers. You've never thought about something more with him?"

I squirmed in my seat and looked away, wanting to hide my lack of a poker face from her.

"No, never. I've only ever thought of him as a friend," I said.

"Ah-ha," Cassie exclaimed as she pointed at my face. "You scrunched! You just lied." She drew out the last word, making it last several seconds as she laughed. "I knew it! You're into him."

"I am not into him. Is he gorgeous, funny, and one of my best friends? Yes. Have I ever wondered what he's like in bed? Yes, fine, I'll admit I have. But that's it. I don't have time for a boyfriend anyway. Plus he and I would never work out. We're friends, that's it. Nothing more."

"Hmmph," she said after taking a sip of her drink. "I don't believe it. There's more there between the two of you. Maybe you're just not realizing it yet, but I'm sure of it."

"Trust me, if there was, I would tell you. You know I can't keep secrets," I said. "Anyway, I baked brownies. Do you want one?"

As Cassie nodded, my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I set it down on the counter near the brownie pan, hoping she wouldn't notice while I read my text. The last thing I needed was to give her more ammunition.

Gideon:
Text me if you want to do something later.

Becca:
I thought you were going out with your college buddies.

Gideon:
Yeah, but you're more fun.

The corners of my mouth tugged up into a smile.

Stop it! Cassie is getting into your head. It means nothing. You're just friends. Nothing more, remember?
I chided myself.

Just as I was about to reply, Cassie shifted in her seat to face me. I casually slipped my phone back into my pocket and tried to hide the smile that spread across my face.

***

After Cassie left, I headed straight to my bedroom and climbed into bed. As I lay in the dark, my phone lit the room with a new text. I didn't have to look to know it was Gideon.

Gideon:
Still up?

Becca:
Cassie just left.

Gideon:
Oh? Have fun?

Becca:
It was nice, talked about a bunch of stuff.

Gideon:
Anyone I need to worry about?

Becca:
What do you mean?

Gideon:
Never mind.

I shook my head while I re-read his texts. It wasn't like him to say things like that. Not that Gideon didn't flirt with me, but that was just how he was. He rarely said anything that sounded serious.

Becca:
Are you home?

Gideon:
Not yet. On the way.

Becca:
You're texting and driving?

Gideon:
No, Navarro is driving.

Becca:
Navarro?

Gideon:
Yeah, Grayson Navarro. One of my best buds from college.

Becca:
Where's your car?

Gideon:
He's driving it. Don't ask.

Gideon never let anyone drive his car. He had a red Bugatti that I called his girlfriend. The only reason I could think for him letting his friend drive was because he was drunk. Why else would he let Navarro drive?

Becca:
Let me know when you get home.

Gideon:
I will, Mom.

Becca:
Shut up.

An hour later, I was sitting at the kitchen table nursing a hot chocolate. I couldn't sleep. I was too worried about Gideon getting home safely.

Gideon should have texted by now
, I thought.

I chewed my bottom lip as I wrapped my fingers around the warm mug. It was late. Why hadn't he texted?

Maybe he didn't want to wake me.

Maybe they got into an accident.

Why does my brain always go to the worst-case scenario?

I grabbed my phone and checked if any new texts had come through.
Nothing
. I rebooted my phone and waited to see if that would fix the possibly missing texts.
Nope, nothing
. I had to find out if he was alright.

Becca:
Did you get home okay? Don't make me stalk you.

I waited a few minutes for Gideon to reply, but he didn't. I finished my hot chocolate and then opened my laptop. As I glanced over the entertainment news, I tried to get my mind off him, but it didn't work. Before I realized what I was doing, I started searching for 'Canyon Cove accident tonight.'